Designing Access Controls

Choose Endpoint Integrity Testing Methods

Transparent Testing

The NAC 800 tries to implement a testing method transparently, with little or no interaction from users. It will automatically try each testing method in the following order:

1.The NAC 800 tries to test with the NAC EI agent.

2.If no agent is installed on the endpoint, the NAC 800 tries to install the ActiveX agent.

3.If the ActiveX installation fails and if credentials for the endpoint or domain exist, the NAC 800 tries to use the agentless method to test the endpoint.

Thus choosing a testing method does not mean selecting a single method on the NAC 800. Instead, as you plan endpoint integrity testing, you should select your preferred testing method and set up the endpoints to support that method. Then, when the NAC 800 tries that particular method, testing can be completed successfully. For example, if you wanted to use the NAC EI agent, you could take steps to ensure that the agent is downloaded and installed on the endpoint. When the NAC 800 tried to test the endpoint, it would find the agent and use this method to test the endpoint.

If you want to use ActiveX, you must ensure that users’ Web browser supports ActiveX, and you must ask users to open their Web browser immediately after they authenticate to the network.

If you want to use agentless testing, you must enter the administrator credentials for endpoints as part of the NAC 800 configuration. You can configure these credentials as part of:

Cluster setting defaults (which apply to all clusters)

Settings for a particular cluster (which take precedence over cluster default settings)

For example, to enter administrator credentials as part of cluster default settings, complete the following steps:

1.Select Home > System configuration > Cluster setting defaults > Agentless credentials.

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